Leadership Change at the DSF – Malte Göttsche Named New Chair

The members of the Board of the German Foundation for Peace Research (DSF) have elected Malte Göttsche as their new Chair. He is a Professor of Natural Science-based Peace and Conflict Research at PRIF – Leibniz Institute for Peace and Conflict Research in Frankfurt am Main and at the Technical University of Darmstadt. With Göttsche’s appointment, a natural scientist takes the helm of the Board for the first time. His research focuses on issues of nuclear non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament, with a particular emphasis on the development of verification methods and technologies.

Göttsche has served on the Board since 2024 and succeeds Professor Ulrich Schneckener, who led the Board’s work for over ten years. “I look forward to further strengthening the Foundation’s work together with my colleagues and providing new impetus in the field of research. I would like to thank Ulrich Schneckener for his tireless commitment, which has set the Foundation on its current path to success,” stated the new Board Chair.

Tobias Pietz, Lead for Climate Security & EU at the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF), is taking over the role of Deputy Chair from Professor Andreas von Arnauld. Von Arnauld is also stepping down after a ten-year term, in accordance with the Foundation’s statutes.
Additionally, Professor Birgit Bräuchler has left the Board. Consequently, three seats on the DSF Board required new appointments. The Foundation Council appointed Sandra Destradi (Professor of International Relations, University of Freiburg), Jana Hönke (Professor of Political Sociology of Africa, University of Bayreuth), and Paulina Starski (Professor of German and Foreign Public Law, European Law, and International Law, University of Freiburg) as new members of the Board.